Dr. Sarwar J Zuberi.pdf - Institute of Basic Medical Sciences

Medical Writing
Dr. Sarwar J Zuberi
Ziauddin Medical University
&
Pakistan Medical & Research Council

Types of Medical Writing
Editorial
Original Article
Review Articles
Short Papers
Case Reports
Letter to Editor
Personal Views
Special Communication

The Basic Structure of Article
TITLE
(S)Summary (Structured Abstract)
(I) Introduction (What Question was asked)
(M)Methods (How was it Studied)
(R)Results (What was Found)
(A)Analysis (How data was analysed)
(D)Discussion (What Do the Findings Mean)
Acknowledgements
References

Title
Should be specific But comprehensive
Short But sufficiently descriptive
No abbreviations
Should be easy To catalogue

Structured abstract
• Objective
• Design
• Setting
• Patients and methods
• Results
• Conclusions
• Key words

Introduction
Existing state of knowledge
Gaps in knowledge which research will fill.
State what you Intend to do
Give pertinent references
It does not
Review the history of the subject
Does not identify all the other gaps in knowledge
Don not include methods, results and discussion

Methods
What Subjects/patients/animals/specimens
techniques were used
Reason for selecting the experimental design
of the study
Statistical methods used for analysis
The section should be called "Materiel and
Methods" only if inanimate specimens have
been used.
(continue)

Methods
Patient / Animals / Specimens
• Numbers
• How are they grouped
• (cases /controls)
• Criteria
• Informed consent obtained

Techniques
Give enough details for readers to assess the
validity of the results, and repeat the study
If standard techniques is used, give appropriate
reference,any modifications should be clearly
explained
If drug trial- clear description of trial

Statistics
Clearly mention the statistical
methods used for appropriate
verification of reported results.
(consult a statistician before starting
the study)

Results
Communication of facts, measurements,
and observations gathered by the author
Start with the results that are easier to
interpret
Results should be set out in tables and
figures
Do not duplicate illustrations

Discussion
What gaps in knowledge remain to be filled
Main results should be summarised at the
beginning of discussion
Only mention previous results or comments which
illuminate or which are illuminated by the present
results.
(continue)

Discussion
• Final paragraph in which the message of the article is
firmly stated.
• Point out where further gaps in knowledge could usefully
be filled instead of "further research is needed".
• Intention of author to explore the "Gaps" further.

Acknowledgements (Silent partners)
“We wish to thank” - all those who deserve
recognition for their contribution but who have
not made a significant intellectual contribution
and are therefore not included as authors
(Colleagues,Institutions, Organizations providing
financial help, laboratory and secretarial staff)

References
1.Standard journal article
Vega K., Pina I., Krevisky B. Heart transplantation
is associated with an increased risk for
pancreaticobiliary disease. Ann Intern Med 1996
Jun 1: 124(11): 980-3
2.Books and other monographs
Phillips SJ, Whisnant JP. Hypertension and stroke.
In: Laragh JH, Bremier BM, editors. Hypertension:
pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. 2nd
ed. New York: Raven Press; 1995. P.465-78.

References
3.Disertation
Kaplan SJ. Post-hospital home health care: the
elderly's access and untilizaiion (dissertation]. St.
Louis (MO): Washington Univ: 1995.
4. Unpublished material
Leshner AL. Molecular mechanisms of cocaine. N
Engl J Med. In press 1996.
5. Electronic material
Morse SS. Factors in the emergence of infectious
disease. Emerg Inftect Dis [serial online] 1995 Jan-
Mar (cited 1996 Jun 5]; 1(1): [24 screens].
Available from URL:
http:/www.cdc.gov/ncdod/EID/eid.htm

Summing Up
In the words of Stephen Lock,
“ A good article has a definite structure. Make
its point and then shuts up”

Sending Manuscript to the Journal
Required number of copies in a heavy envelop
enclosing figures / photos / photo
micrographics in card boards in separate
envelop
Covering letter signed by all co-authors
Has not been submitted else where
Approved by all authors
Authors will bear the cost of colour illustration

Requirements for Submission of
Manuscript
Must Read Instructions to Authors
(Uniform requirements for manuscripts
submitted to biomedical Journals 1997)
Preparation
Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods
• Materials
• Subjects
• Patients
• Results
• Discussion
Typing
• White bond paper
(8.1/2 x 11” or A4 with 1”
margins
Typing - Double space
• Number pages
consecutively beginning
with title page (upper or
lower right hand corner)

Requirements for Submission of
Manuscript
Manuscript on DISC
Include a printout version
Name the file clearly
Label the disc with format of the file
and file name
Provide information on hardware and
software used.

Title Page (1st Page)
Title of the article (concise information)
Name of author(s)
Highest academic degree(s)
Affiliation
Department
Institution
Disclaimers if any
Name and address of author for correspondence
about the manuscript
Source of support in the form of grants,
equipment, drugs
Short running head or foot line of no more than
40 characters

Abstract and Key Words (2 nd Page)
150 words for unstructured abstract
250 words for structured abstract
Abstract should be
Purpose of the study
Basic procedures (selection of subjects,
observational and analytical methods)
Main findings (Data and its significance)
The principal conclusions
3-10 Key words
Assist indexer and cross indexing
Terms from medical subject heading (MeSH)
should be used

Introduction (3rd Page)
State purpose of the article
Summarize the rationale for study or observation
Give Strictly pertinent reference
Do not include data or conclusion

Method (4 th Page)
Describe selection of the observational,
Experimental subjects including controls
Experimental method (reference for standard
methods)
Statistical methods
Ethics

Results (5 th Page)
Logical sequence
Text
Tables
Illustrations
Do not repeat in the text all the data in tables /
figures emphasize, summarizing important
observations
Tables
Figures
- Number tables separate sheets
- Legends
5 x 7” or 8 x10” glossy prints
(Black & white / coloured)

Discussion (6 th Page)
Emphasize new and important aspects of the study
and conclusions that follow
Do not repeat the data
Include implications of the funding, their
limitations and implications for future Research
Relate observations with other relevant studies
Recommendations when appropriate may be
included

Acknowledgement (7 th Page)
Those who do not justify to be Authors should be
Acknowledged
Those who have provided technical help
Financial and material support

Some Guidelines
Choose an appropriate Journals
Go through the “uniform requirements for
Biomedical publications”
Write simple grammatically correct sentences
Brevity is the best practice
Avoid irrelevant details
Show the draft to colleagues
Read final draft carefully
Typographical and grammatical mistakes give bad
impression
Check tables and figures (Captions, size, clarity)

Authorship
All person designated as authors should qualify for
authorship
Author should have participated sufficiently in the
work to take public responsibility for the content
Authorship credit should be based on substantial
contribution to:
Conception
Design
Analysis & interpretation of data

Authorship
Drafting, revising it critically, for important
intellectual contents and final approval of the
contents
Participating solely in acquisition of funding,
collection of data does not justify authorship
General supervision of research group is not
sufficient for authorship
Order of the author should be a joint decision of
the authors